Carpet-stretcher.



W. C. BURKE.

CARPET STRETGHER.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 16,1909.

Patented June 14,1910.

Mr/ffm?- @@vfmm@ @Mieming SES PATENT FFIQ,

WILLIAM CARPET-STRETCHER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 14, 1910.

Application filed July 16, 1909. Serial No. 508,052.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM C. BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scalp Level, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carpet Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to carpet stretchers, the object of the invention being to provide Ia simple and inexpensive construction of stretcher which is adjustable as to length to suit different sizes of rooms, and which is adapted to be conveniently operated to stretch a carpet to a desired degree with the expenditure of a minimum amount of time and labor.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which :d

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a carpet stretcher elnbodying my invention, illustrating the same as employed in use for stretching a carpet. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Figs. i?) and l are cross sections on the lines 3-3 and 1f-f of Fig. 1.

The stretcher comprises a main or relatively fixed section 1 consisting of a pair of parallel bars 2 spaced to form a longitudinal guideway 3 and connected at their rear ends by a cross bar 4, which is adapted to serve the function of an abutting member'.

Arranged for longitudinal movement within the guideway 3 and between the bar 2 is a sliding board or traveler 5 provided at its side edges with longitudinal guide tongues G movable within guide grooves 7 formed in the inner faces of the bars 2. Fixed at one end, as at S, to the inner or rear end of said sliding board or traveler 5 is a rope or cord 9 which passes around a guide pulley 10 carried by a cross piece 11 connecting the lbars 2 at the forward end of the section 1 and thence extending rearwardly and having its opposite end secured to a winding drum 12 on a transverse shaft- 13 journaled in bearings 14 on the rear ends of the bars 2. Loosely mounted on said shaft is an operating lever 15 carrying a dog or pawl 16 to engage a ratchet wheel 17 fixed to the shaft, the arrangement being such that on the forward movement of said lever the shaft will be turned to wind the cord upon the drum and thus move the traveler 5 forwardly, while upon the rearward movement of said lever the pawl 16 will slide idly over the teeth of the wheel. A second ratchet wheel 18 is also fixed to the shaft and is provided with rearwardly projecting teeth adapted to be engaged by a locking pawl 19 pivotally mounted on the cross bar t by which retractive movement of the shaft and winding drum, and consequently backward movement of the traveler' 5 will be prevented under the strain upon the stretched fabric.

The traveler is formed in its upper face with a longitudinal groove or recess 20 to receive an adjustable bar or'section 21, the forward end of said groove or recess extending through the forward end of the traveler, to permit the bar 21 to project forwardly beyond said traveler. The upper surface of the bar 21 is thus arranged to lie flush with the upper face of the traveler, and said bar is provided with a longitudinal series of vertical openings 22 adapted to register with correspondingly arranged openings 23, in the traveler, which openings are adapted to receive holding pins or bolts 2a by which the bar 21 may be adj ustably connected with the traveler to regulate the effective length of the stretcher for use l size.

The bar 21 is provided at its forward end with a carpet engaging device comprising a cross bar or head 25 reinforced from the bar 21 by inclined braces 26 and provided with a series vof depending spurs or engaging pins 27 having forwardly bent teeth or lower ends to engage a carpet 28 which is to be stretched.

In the operation of the device, the stretcher is disposed between two of the opposite walls of the room, with the cross bar 4 arranged to bear against the washboarol at the base of o-ne wall, and then the movable section or carpet engaging member 21 is adjusted to the desired degree according to the distance between the walls. The teeth 27 of said section 21 are then engaged with the carpet 28 adjacent the opposite wall and the lever 15 operated to propel said movable section forwardly, by which the carpet may be stretched until the desired tautness is reached, when its loose end may be tacked or otherwise secured to the lioor.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a simple and effective construction of in rooms varying 1n stretcher Which may he easily and convenlfor longitudinal adjustment to suit any ordinary sizes of rooms.

After the device has been used, it may be folded by sliding the portions 5 and 2l in- Wardly so that it may be handled and stored Within a comparatively small space until its use is further required.

I claim A carpet Stretcher comprising a relatively fixed section, a traveler slidably mounted thereon, a Winding drum on said fixed section, a cord connected With the traveler and said Winding drum, ratchet mechanism for turning said drum to intermittently propel said traveler forwardly, and a carpet engaging section adjustably connected With said traveler.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

WILLIAM C. BURKE. 

